Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-04

Courts of Their Own-Population, Nor
mon aud Nom Mormon-The Movement
for Statehood Discredited-An Important
Omission in Their Constitution.
WASHINGTON CITY, Oct. &c. l.. Godfrey,
A. B. Williams and Arthur l. Thomas, con-
shutting majority of the Utah commission,
have filed with the secretary of the interior
the annual report of the commissioners on
the affairs of that territory. A memoran-
dun at the close of the document states that
Commissioners Carlton and MctSlernand, dis
senting from many of the views expressed
therein, do not sign the report.
The population OF the territory is estimated
at 2,O, 900, gain of nearly 60, 900 since 1880.
The valuation of the property as assessed in
the territory is given s35, '6S, s02 On
April l of the present year the total Nor
mon population in the territories of Utah,
idaho, Arizona, Wyoming and New
Mexico and the states Of Nevada and
Colorado was 49,, 1888, officially classed as fol
lows: Three first presidents, eleven apostles,
sixiy-fivs patrisrchs s Al seventies, 3.T?5
high priests l., AL e6ers, 2 423 priests, 2, 497
teachers 4. S54 teac ons and 81 2s3 members.
In the territory of Utah the total church
population is 49,, 2g7 and the number Of
children under 8 years of agel was AZ, 6s4
Since the death of John Taylor the govern
ment of the church has rested upon the quo
rum of twelve apostles of which Wilform
Woodruff is president He is now the viz
tual head of the church.
The Mormon church, continues the report,
teaches it members not to enter the territorial
courts 10 settle their difficulties. 1t has pro
vided a system of courts within the church,
First, there is a ward court, presided over
by bishop counselor They are empow-
ered to try all minor cases, both Of a temporal
and spiritual nature aud to sit in Judgment
upon transgressors. From this court appeals
may be taken to the stake court" and then
to the first president" or the Apostles
quorum" which is a court OF last resort and
exclusive jurisdiction.
The fittings OF 1880 amounted to 800, 0J0.
The building of the Salt Lake temple, which
was commenced in 1863 has already cost
| millions of dollars. and will not he completed
for wears to come The people, the report
| says, are very tenacious of their rights, and
persistently claim that they are prosecuted.
The Mormon strength is estimated at 81, 900
| These men own of the assessed property of
the territory nearly one-tbird, exclusive Of
railroad property The different religious
denominations have now sixty two churches.
| The Methodist denomination has the largest
number, twenty-six; Presbyterians eighteen,
Catholics six, aud So decreasing through five
other societies. These several churches have
established and control eighty-seven schools
with an aggregate Of 666S pupils and 20
| teachers
Since the passage of the Edmunds law in
| 1872, Sal persons have been indicted for I'M
| lawful Capitalization, 2S9 Of them being con-
victei. The number convicted of polygamv
was a. Many of the persons indicted have
fled to escape arrest The national laws re
| Iatins TO bigamy and polygamy have been
in effective operation for about three years
| Standing face to face with the law the
| leaders aud their obedient followers have
made no concession and the isSne is
| >quarsly maintained between assumed reve-
| Iatious and the laws of the land The first
annual election under the act of congress pre-
scribing registration oath for voters was
held on August Of this year, and resulted as
| follows: The Mormons elected ten councillors
| and twenty -nne members, the Liberals or
| non Morinons two councillors and three mem
hers. The total vote was 1891.
| On the subject OF the movement for state
| hood the report says that in June last con
ventiop was held for the purpose of adopting
8, constitution ON which 70 aamand adm,ssion
| Ia the union. The constitution was adopted
Nth c,,,.st ,nanip,itv aud daclarss bicaur
| and ,ooirc,a,ny n lao ,nisdarosonors anJ fres
| nunisbn,snt II .ls,, nro,-i1.s that ma fnrthar
lepisIstiop shall b- rr ,ir.;l tn max. ar define
| these offeps4,s and prorIaims the separation
| of church and STATE Tbs Instrument
| i sfant .s Ia ill.,. o9ansa If
| rnlovf,I cob,I,i,oti,, 1lo -Mor,,,ons
a.,.li,aI +, rer,,r,,,,,. ~, rom in tho r,ooaad.
| mos of the co,ysntiou The Norpons claim
tLst haviog t..an This act,,n tba n.,opIa